Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - A Four-man delegation Ghana Local Organising Committee of the African Cup of Nations, (CAN) Ghana 2008 have conferred with the orgainsers of the 2006 Germany FIFA World Cup Tournament to explore chances for collaboration in areas that will impact on the 2008 tournament in Ghana.

The delegation which was led by Mr O.B. Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports described the discussions held with the German LOC led by the first Vice President, Mr Wolfgang Niersbach as 'exceptionally fruitful and edifying'.

A release issued from the secretariat of the Ghana 2008 copied to the GNA Sports named the other members of the delegation to include the Chairman of the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Local Organising Committee, (LOC) Dr Kofi Amoah, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, the Chief Operating Officer of the LOC and Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association.

Dr Amoah said the delegation sought briefings on the structure and operations of the Germany 2006 World Cup, especially at the venue levels, issues relating to tournament accreditation and security, capacity building for production for satellite uplink and live telecast of the Ghana 2008 CAN tournament.

He said the delegation made in-depth enquiries with regard to database of production companies for possible engagement for the CAN tournament to take into account capacity building for local TV networks, including training for personnel such as cameramen and producers.

The Chairman said in the matter of capacity building for the tournament's accreditation and management of security, the delegation availed itself of valuable information on benchmarks for best practices in managing the linkages between security and accreditation. =93The interaction with the Germany 2006 LOC convinced the Ghana 2008 LOC that we re on the right path to carry out the activities unveiled in the blueprint at the global launch this year as well as other projects that now only require tying up of the loose ends=94. Dr Amoah said another area that was discussed by the two teams were avenues available for management of ticket sales, especially online, management of media accessibility to various areas, including the mixed zones and the pitches for matches.

Capacity building for managing the hospitality industry to promote tourism as an integral part of the tournament and as a post-event legacy was also prominent on the agenda, he added.

Dr Amoah said members of the delegation were 93exceptionally satisfied on the brief on the workings for a volunteer scheme that defined possible roles for municipal authorities at the venue cities and the best practices for recruitment and management of volunteers, with the Germany LOC offering to provide capacity building for Trainers of trainers for the Ghana 2008 LOC.

The Deputy Minister referred to the task ahead for the Ghana 2008 LOC as a 91monumental challenge that has to be tackled with as much energy, haste and urgency as would be needed to accomplish 30 months work load and therefore tasked the LOC to work twice as hard as before to accomplish positive results.

He expressed amazement about the awesome amount of work that still need to be accomplished by the LOC within 15 months leading to the 2008 Tournament but said the trip is an eye opener that would pave the way for success by the LOC.

The Germany LOC team included Mr Heinz Palme, General Coordinator, Ms Stefanie Schulte of the Volunteer programme and Ms Cornelia Ljunbers and Helmut Spanh who agreed on the possibility of leveraging part of the legacy of the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup as support to the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of nations Tournament. 21 Oct. 06